4-H
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What is 4-H?
In 4-H, we believe in the power of young people. We see that every
child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world
around us. We are America’s largest youth development organi-
zation—empowering nearly six million young people across the U.S.
with the skills to lead for a lifetime.
4-H is a Community
4-H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more
than 100 public universities across the nation that provides
experiences where young people learn by doing. Oregon State
University is Oregon’s Land Grant University, and therefore, the 4-H
program is ran through this university. It offers a research-based
experience that includes a caring adult, a hands-on project, and a
meaningful learning opportunity with project areas like health, art,
cooking, science, agriculture, shooting sports, and citizenship. 4-H
provides a positive environment where youth ages 5-19 receive
guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive
leadership roles. Kids experience 4 H through in-school and after-
school programs, community clubs, leadership retreats, and 4 H camps.
Nationwide, these programs are delivered by 3,500 4 H professionals
and 500,000 volunteers, and here in Clatsop County we have 419
members and 147 volunteer adult leaders.
Benefits of 4-H
4-H grows true leaders. A common question asked by parents and
community leaders stems from the inquiry of how will youth benefit from
affiliation with or participation in an organization such as 4-H. Families are
extremely busy and that free time is worth quite a bit; they need to make
So what exactly does 4-H look like in Clatsop County?
The Clatsop County 4-H program offers mostly club programming.
Volunteer leaders work with youth throughout the year at club meetings.
These meetings can be with Cloverbud youth (ages 5-8) or Traditional
club members (ages 9-19). The Cloverbud program is designed to open
their minds to new learning, trying a variety of activities. The Traditional
program is a little different. The youth pick projects they are interested
in and a volunteer club leader holds meetings throughout the year
helping the youth learn and master these project skills. Along with those
project skills (such as archery, or sewing), the member also is asked to
give presentations, do some sort of leadership, do a community service
project, and go to an educational or other fun 4-H event outside of their
normal meetings. This encourages the member to learn life-skills they
will need in the future.
Sponsorships and Donations
Clatsop County 4-H is a non-profit 501(C)3 so your donations will be
tax deductible. Cash donations go back to the kids in some way or
another. They help support events/scholarship like camps, youth trainings,
leadership retreats, recognition and awards for the youth, Educational field
days & field trips, and workshops, as well as training and recognition for
leaders, and operating costs of the meeting room, the Club House.
Typically, we try to offer most of our events for free or for very little cost to
the youth. Of course, some events, have more expenses such as camps
and out-of-town events. 4-H can also accept cash or real estate donations
of a larger scale as well and these would be set up as an endowment
through the Oregon 4-H foundation to benefit Clatsop County.
Since 4-H offers programming to youth, material goods donations
are often needed as well.
it meaningful and productive from a standpoint of contributing to the
overall well-being of their child.
4-H teaches positive youth development built upon what has
become known as the 5 c’s: caring, character, confidence,
competence, connection, To better speak of the specifics of the
benefits of the 4-H program, a longitudinal study accessing over 7,000
youth from an array of diverse backgrounds was performed at Tufts
University. Researchers partnered with faculty at land-grant universities
to study how participation in 4-H allows youth to succeed in academic
and life experiences through positive adult mentoring, structured
learning, and consistent encouragement. Results were published in
the Study of Positive Youth Development, and details of the study can
be accessed at http://www.4-h.org/ about/youth-development-
research/positive-youth-development-study/
This study shows that 4 H empowers young people to be true
leaders. True leaders are young people who have confidence; know
how to work well with others; can endure through challenges; and will
stick with a job until it gets done. In 4 H, we believe true leaders aren't
born - they're grown. The hands-on approach gives young people
guidance, tools and encouragement, and then puts them in the
driver's seat to make great things happen. This independent research
proves the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience that:
• 4-H youth are 4 x more likely to give back to their communities
• 4-H youth are 2 x more likely to make healthier choices
• 4-H youth are 2 x more likely to participate in STEM activities
• 4-H offers quality programing that take the child’s “spark” or
interest, combines it with quality meetings or a period of time with a
caring adult. This makes up the 4-H Program Model. The long term
goal is for the youth to: feel they belong to a group, are able to master
a skill, learn independence to make good decisions, and learn
generosity by giving back to their communities.
Fundraising Efforts
4-H typically holds a few fundraisers each year. They hold two
Bingo events open to the public, generally one in Seaside in winter
and one in Astoria in the spring. At these events we have basket
bucket drawings as well. In the spring/summer, the have a Pig Drawing
for half a pig cut-and-wrapped for free with the drawing being held at
the county fair. Also at fair they have the “4-H Chicken Coop” or food
booth open all week long for 4-H members and the public as well at 2
steak dinners. The money raised from these donations help support
the program year round.
Ways 4-H Gives back to the Community
The 4-H members are active in helping out their communities.
Some of the service provided is: offering and running a Pet clinic,
helping local animal shelters/animal programs, organizing a month
long food drive, helping the elderly, caroling at care centers, making
blankets and collecting supplies for the hurricane victims, making
Wishing Tree ornaments for the trees around town, making holiday
placemat and pumpkin carving for local care centers.
Volunteers
The 4-H program has limited staff in the Extension Office, so we
could not run this program without the great volunteers in our
community. Volunteers can take on many different roles: Club leader,
Assistant Club leader, Resource leader, teacher at workshops and
events, help out in the Extension Office, chaperone for events, member
of the committees, or the 4-H Association, just to name a few. Currently
we are looking for new club leaders in art, science, home ec. projects,
legos, and Cloverbuds.
4-H
503-325-8573
The Oregon 4-H Vision:
All youth experience economic and
social success in adulthood while making
positive contributions to their
communities.
The 4-H Program Mission
The mission of 4-H is to provide young
people with intentional, high quality
learning experiences that promote
positive interactions with adults and
peers, sustained and active participation
across time, and opportunities to make
meaningful contributions to the world
around them.
Core Values
4-H programs are based on the theory
and practice of positive youth
development. Youth development
programs work best when they provide
opportunities for young people to
experience mastery, belonging,
independence, and generosity. Experi-
ential learning forms the basis of our
“learn by doing” approach. Youth voice
and youth engagement are critical to
effective 4-H programming. Volunteers
and partners are essential to the success
of the 4-H program. We value and respect
human diversity of all types. 4-H believes
that all young can be successful and
therefore provides access and
opportunity for all.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sandra Carlson
4-H Coordinator, Clatsop County
Sandra.carlson@oregonstate.edu
503-325-8573
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GIVING BACK 2018-19 • 5